Residents petition to block building

Hundreds of Jackson Heights residents are petitioning against a plan to build a six-story building at 84-01 37th Avenue, where a row of one-story businesses burned down last year.
The facility is projected to have ground-floor stores, 45 one-bedroom and two-bedroom apartments, and 14 underground parking spaces.
Councilmember Daniel Dromm, who represents the area, said he opposed the project due to the lack of windows and green space in front of the proposed structure.
“This building violates the landmark and historic nature of our district,” Dromm said. “It will bring 45 more families, but no additional services like garbage pickups, snow removals or classroom space for the students.”
The owners of the property could appear before the City’s Landmarks Preservation Commission during the meeting tentatively scheduled for either Tuesday, February 1 or Tuesday, February 8 to respond to public concerns of the building’s design. The commission will then vote on whether or not to approve the project at the meeting. One of the building owners declined to comment on the situation.
“I am against this project because it is much larger than the original building and therefore affects our schools, park space and sanitation,” said Katie Musselwhite-Goldsmith, of Jackson Heights, who collected more than 500 signatures from locals who opposed the building.
Since the property is located in a historic district, the commission can choose to accept the current building plans or ask for modifications.
“This project is out of character for our neighborhood,” said Joe Goldsmith, who lives across the street from the proposed structure. “Jackson Heights has never been about maximizing the amount of families who can live in a building and I hope Landmarks realizes that this should not be permitted.”
Project Manager Charles Knight, of Angelo Ng & Anthony Ng Architects Studio, told The New York Daily News the property owners are looking into putting green space in front of the building. But installing windows on the eastern wall isn’t feasible due to building regulations, he said.
“We’re seeking to find a solution that the existing residents and the property owner can agree upon,” he told the Daily News.
Edward J. Ermler, president of the Roosevelt Terrace Cooperative in Jackson Heights, is concerned that this project will bring more six-story buildings to the neighborhood.
“When we have to do any repair work we have to jump through hoops to get Landmark approval,” Ermler said. “Now we have a developer that shows no care for the characteristics of the neighborhood and its time for him to comply as well.”